A MUM and son are launching a campaign to try and help the victims of school bullying after appearing on television.

Amanda Dawson and her son Michael, aged 15, say he has been picked on in the three secondary schools he has attended. He now refuses to attend his current school, Copley High School.

The pair joined in a studio discussion on the 'Tricia' show on ITV1.

Now they are joining with an Oldham family who appeared on the same show to get help for victims by raising a petition and calling for help from parliament.

"The bullies are sent to special units and get help but our children are missing out on their education," said Amanda, aged 42.

She added: "The schools have not ignored the issue, I just do not think they have the ability to cope with it as they should."

The full time mum added: "Michael is coming up to his GCSEs and needs support because he has dyslexia. We have encouraged him to go back to school and beat the system."

Amanda said the victims of bullying are missing out on their vital education, and are often overlooked.

"They have a right to education. I want people to write to me and tell me about their experiences and what they would like to see happen.

"We had felt very isolated until last week, when we met a family from Oldham in the same situation.

"This is not just for Michael. It is for other kids and will go on until something changes."

A spokesman for Tameside Council said: "Tameside LEA promotes a zero-tolerance policy to bullying in all its schools and any allegation is taken very seriously and thoroughly investigated.

"In April, this school (Copley High School) was visited by Ofsted inspectors who noted 'there is a strong anti-bullying policy that is well advertised around the school and is effective in opposing oppressive behaviour'.

"The inspectors went on to say 'pupils and parents give strong endorsement of the success of the policy, reporting that any incidents of bullying are dealt with well'."